UK Muslims discuss 42-day detention

About 300 people, including key imams and community leaders, are expected to attend a gathering on Sunday at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel, east London.

The meeting will look at the role of the British Muslim community in 10 years' time in a discussion chaired by Dr Abdelwahab el-Affendi, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster.

MCB spokesman Inayat Bunglawala said the meeting was likely to address pressing issues facing Muslims today and how they can look beyond the impact of terrorism.

Concerns of parents that the Muslim faith is not being properly taught in state schools was likely to be on the agenda, he said.

"It has been very much focused on the terror issue, we want to look beyond that to see where the community will be in 10 years' time, in terms of education and integration and progress being made. If there are any obstacles and what are the challenges facing British Muslims."

He added: "We will be looking at what is the preferred way forward. Some Muslim faith schools have got state funding. We will be looking at why people are turning to this sector, why parents are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the state sector.

"We know that there is general concern about the teaching of faith issues and whether schools sufficiently teach the Muslim faith in schools."

Mr Bunglawala said there had already been some "interesting proposals" such as inviting imams into schools.

Mr Bunglawala said it was inevitable that the 42-day detention limit, due to be voted on by the Commons next week, would be raised as it was likely to affect the Muslim community.